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Ben Howard – Oats in the Water Lyrics 8 years ago
Go your way
I'll take the long way 'round
I'll find my own way down
As I should

(This first verse is about acceptance of other's decisions,
and the effect greed has on our psyches. Dishonesty is rewarded by gold in this society)

And hold your gaze
There's coke in the Midas touch
A joke in the way that we rust
And breathe again

(This verse is about Midas and the effects he had on his town.
Coke in the Midas touch, refers to coal in the gold smelting process which creates rust. There could also be a reference to polluting water with your greed as Midas only rid himself of his curse by touching his hands to the river Pactolus. If there were coal in his gold it would've killed a lot of his townsmen while bringing them riches. I expect that the "joke in the way that we rust" is a reference to the effects that coal miners had on the towns that they life and prosperity for).

And you'll find loss
And you'll fear what you found
When the weather comes
Tearing down

(This verse is about the karmic effects that greed has. When you bring uncertainty to others, you'll be struck down)

There'll be oats in the water
There'll be birds on the ground
There'll be things you never asked her
Oh how they tear at you now

(Again this could be a reference to coal miners, as oats in the water is a reference to cocaine and it was common for coal miners to get addicted to cocaine. Birds on the ground is also a sign of imminent death often by undetectable ways. It could also be literal: coal miners would use canaries to detect early signs of carbon monoxide levels).

You'll also notice this song repeats itself. That's because this process does as well. Greed is cyclical and it ripples down to those who have been affected by it.

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Rise Against – Wait For Me Lyrics 9 years ago
This seems to me, that they're painting the picture of a soldier who's left home expecting to return at some point, but he keeps getting strung along to longer and longer tours of duty. So much so, that he no longer feels at home in the US anymore and he loses connection with his SO.

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Rise Against – The Strength to Go On Lyrics 9 years ago
@[ILikeThatPanda:8813] Tim McIlrath has come out and said that it isn't about the Iraq war. He's stated that it's about our lack of understanding and the general response to soldiers coming home (from any country).

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Rise Against – The Strength to Go On Lyrics 9 years ago
Why does their religious preference matter in this? o.O

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Rise Against – The Strength to Go On Lyrics 9 years ago
It sounds to me like this song is about:

Our cultural disinterest with sharing our feelings. We'd rather say "I'm fine" than tell anyone just how we feel because that would be scary.

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